Archive Gems - The Doctor... series
 
 
There’s always been comedy mileage in schoolboy humour.
The sniggering, behind the bike sheds, itching powder antics of old were
what made Just William and the St. Trinian’s films – yes, I realise
they were school
girls! – as popular in their day as they were.

  The late Fifties and Sixties saw a return to the services for humour, in series such as The Army Game on television and The Navy Lark on radio. But it wasn’t only ‘the services’ – Army, Navy, Air Force – that found themselves the basis for comedy series and sitcoms. Other services, especially the medical profession, again found themselves targets to be lampooned. And coming back to the schoolboy humour for a moment, the medical student comedy of test-tubes, skeletons and specimen glasses was never more than a short step away from the itching powder antics of the schoolboy – or girl.

Adaptation

Writer Richard Gordon – real-life Dr. Gordon Ostlere – originally wrote about his characters in his 1952 book Doctor In The House, featuring situations that he had encountered and could foresee happening from his own experiences. This was much the same way that James Herriot – real vet Alf Wright - would later do with his veterinary practise books including All Creatures Great & Small. The book of Doctor In The House was made into a film in 1953 starring Dirk Bogarde as the main character, Dr. Simon Sparrow, and the film series lasted for fourteen sequels.

It also transferred to radio in 1968, adapted by farce writer and performer Ray Cooney and featuring the popular Richard Briers as Sparrow, with Cooney in support as fellow student Tony Benskin. However, on television, Sparrow only ever appeared once outside of re-runs of the Bogarde films, in June 1960 on the BBC starring Brian Rix, Dickie Henderson and Charles Cameron. It was never intended to be a pilot for a series, being a straight adaptation of the book only.

In fact, although uncertain, the potential for a series based on the exploits of the doctors of St. Swithin’s would have been realised sooner, had it not been for the continued success of the various Bogarde films. However, in 1968, the then Head of Comedy at London Weekend Television, Frank Muir, was able to secure the rights from Richard Gordon to make a series based on the books, suitably updating the characters from the Fifties to the late Sixties. By the time it emerged on 11th July 1969 – and a month after the second BBC radio series, Doctor At Large, starring Richard Briers had debuted – Doctor In The House appeared on LWT, networked around most of the ITV franchised areas as it would be throughout what would turn out to be a long run for any comedy series.

The new boys on the block

Changes had occurred at St. Swithin’s of course. We learned that Simon Sparrow had gone into general practise, and the bully of the piece, Sir Lancelott Spratt, had retired to the House of Lords. In their places were new characters, with the students equal if not even more adept at medical high-jinks in the updated world than their predecessors, and Spratt’s replacement was certainly equal in pomposity.

The central character of the series was the naïve, young Michael Upton, played by Barry Evans, who was in his final year as a medical student before hopefully qualifying for either a future career at the hospital or as a GP. He would often be led astray from his studies, with the misadventures involving Upton usually engineered by one or other of his fellow students, the main culprits being Dick Stuart-Clark and Duncan Waring, played by Geoffrey Davies and Robin Nedwell, who subsequently became regulars throughout the Doctor… series.

Stuart-Clark considered himself God’s gift to the opposite sex, and would use all his wiles and cunning to snare himself the most attractive student nurses as his evening’s date – even if they were previously attached to one of the other students such as Upton or Waring. There was always the impression that Dick was a bit of a social climber as well, which would come to the fore much later.

Waring, while also considering himself to be a catch for the young nurses, was much more the ‘chummy’ character of Upton’s two fellows, which undoubtedly made him the more popular with audiences. As worldly wise as Stuart-Clark in many ways, he could also be as naïve as Upton in others, and combined the two with an impish twinkle and sense of humour. His rivalry with Stuart-Clark would last throughout the run, as would the interplay between him and fellow student Paul Collier, played by George Layton.

Collier not only had many of the same characteristics, but also could see ways of turning some of their misadventures to profit, on the lines of brewing elicit hooch in the medical supply room or organising ‘charity raffles’ for student union fundays. The profit element attracted Stuart-Clark as well, and the two could often be found together, up to their necks in trouble.

Other fellow students in the series included Dave Briddock, Irishman Danny Hooley, and Welshman Huw Evans, played by Simon Cuff, Jonathan Lynn and Martin Shaw respectably, Hooley only arriving at St. Swithin’s for the second series in 1970.

With much of their on-duty time as well as off-duty time engaging in matters strictly non-medical, it was only a matter of time per episode before one or other of the student gang would get in a sticky situation incurring the wrath and acid tongue of the senior professor at St. Swithin’s, Professor Geoffrey Loftus, played by Ernest Clark. He had all of his students weighed up within seconds of them starting, particularly Waring, Stuart-Clark and Collier, and would often know exactly which of their buttons to push in order to keep them in line. It has to be said, though, that the threesome could often be relied upon to do the reverse!

Out and about

In 1971, Upton was shown to have finally qualified and the series changed format for a while as well as adopting a new title, Doctor At Large. Throughout the summer, 29 episodes were shown in two blocks – the first 6 were only shown in black and white - and followed Upton’s misadventures after gaining his doctorate. After starting in the ENT department at St. Swithin’s, he switched to a private practise, along with the now-qualified Collier, run by Dr Maxwell played by Dad’s Army’s Arthur Lowe. Upton wasn’t to last long, as Maxwell’s patients thought Upton couldn’t be a real doctor, looking as young as he did, and Maxwell himself suspected Upton’s intentions towards his pretty daughter Sue, played by ex-Bond girl Madeline Smith. He then left and joined the newly-qualified Stuart-Clark in a plush Harley Street practise run by Dr Whiteland, played by Fabia Drake. In the second block of episodes that year, Upton switched practise a third time to one run by Collier’s uncle, Dr Griffin, played by Brian Oulton.

The golden guys

1972 saw a change of casting, which was to provide the ‘golden line-up’ for the series. Although another newly-qualified doctor, Bingham, played by future Man About The House and Robin’s Nest star Richard O’Sullivan, appeared in the early St. Swithin’s-based episodes of Doctor At Large, the also-qualified Duncan Waring had not featured. Robin Nedwell was to return to the series and take centre stage though for the new series, and subsequent outings, as Barry Evans left to star in a new LWT comedy, Mind Your Language. With the Waring, Stuart-Clark and Collier threesome all back together at St. Swithin’s as ‘proper’ doctors, it was business as usual for them all for a further 42 episodes under the new title of Doctor In Charge.

Not all the capers involved medical problems of course, and with writers such as The Goodies’ Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden, Monty Python’s John Cleese and Graham Chapman and veteran scribbler Bernard McKenna, subjects included the courtship and marriage of Bingham, missing cars, decorating the hospital and the knighthood of Professor Loftus, to name only a few. Duncan was also seen to have a semi-regular girlfriend in the earlier episodes, played by future Tomorrow People star Sammie Winmill.

Also on the writing front for three episodes was a young writer who turned in an unsolicited script and was asked for more. It was to prove a turning point for the future of British television, as the writer was none other than Phil Redmond, who would go on to produce Grange Hill, Brookside, Byker Grove and Hollyoaks among many others.

All at sea...

In 1974, after two good years of highly-popular antics at the hospital, the show changed format again. After Dick Stuart-Clark is sacked from St. Swithin’s, Duncan rashly makes known his disapproval by tendering his resignation from the hospital. Both find work on board the cruise ship the MS Begonia as ship’s doctors and have to contend with the various holiday misadventures guaranteed by the ship’s crew. Here, only Waring and Stuart-Clark appeared as old faces as such, with new characters for the Begonia featuring in place of the likes of Bingham et al. They included the Chief Officer (John Drake), the Radio Officer (Desmond Stokes), the Entertainments Officer (Bob Todd), the Purser (John Grieve, formally of The Vital Spark) and the Captain – who bore an uncanny resemblance to Stuart-Clark and Waring’s old nemesis Professor Loftus, as he was his twin brother! As such, he of course know exactly what he was getting and there was no more respite for the doctors here than back on dry land. Doctor At Sea sailed for 13 episodes before returning to land for 1975.

On the way out

When they returned to St. Swithin’s, Doctor On The Go was little different from Doctor In Charge, except that the popularity with LWT for the series was finally on the wane. Only Nedwell, Davies and Clark were left from the original … In Charge cast, although new doctors, Mackenzie and Gascoigne, were introduced. There was a two year gap between series, with Duncan being seen to court and finally wed a young nurse, Kate Wright, played by Jacquie-Ann Carr, in the last episode broadcast in 1977.

However, even after 138 episodes and specials, the series would not lie down, and this was due in no small way to its popularity Down Under.

A popular export

In the mid to late Seventies, British television was extremely successful at exporting the format of popular series around the globe, with quiz shows and comedies being the most exploited genres. In the comedy genre, popular shows such as Steptoe and Son, Are You Being Served, The Good Life, Father, Dear Father and Love Thy Neighbour were sold as formats and remade in other countries, notably America and Australia.

The Doctor… series was another format that was exported successfully. This was partly due to the fact that Geoffrey Davies and Robin Nedwell had appeared in a phenomenally successful stage tour of Doctor In The House, and later Doctor In Love, in 1974 after the recording of Doctor At Sea. As stars of the series, they were given a fantastic reception both in Australia and later when the tour transferred to New Zealand. When the Seven Network in Australia heard that LWT had finally put the series out to pasture, they invited both Davies and Nedwell back to appear in a series of new episodes there, an offer that the two actors were happy to accept.

Doctor Down Under was made in late 1978 and transmitted in early 1979. Duncan had emigrated to Australia where he had got a position as a doctor at St. Barnabus Hospital in Sydney. He had left his possessions behind with his 'mate' Dick Stuart-Clark for him to sell and forward the proceeds. However, although Dick did indeed do this, and made a tidy amount, he decided to use the money for a first-class ticket to Australia and follwed Duncan! When he got there, he couldn't pay his hotel bill and tried to sneak out the window, but fell and lost his memory. When he arrived at St. Barnabus, he supposedly doesn't recognise Duncan, but it soon transpires his memory has indeed returned. He sponges off Duncan until he finds work - unfortunately also at St. Barnabus!

After that, it was more business as usual, with both incurring the wrath of Professor Beaumont, played by Frank Wilson, and getting up the nose of fellow doctor Griffin, played by John Derum. The only major difference here was that they shared a secretary, a luxury that they had not had back in England, but Linda, played by Jennifer Mellet, had both weighed up very quickly and could easily defend herself from the advances of the English lotharios.

13 episodes were made in all, broadcast in two blocks in 1979 and 1980 in Australia. Curiously, although re-importing of the exported product happened here – Dear John: USA was a later example – and most were given good time slots, Doctor Down Under was not accorded the same treatment. When LWT did broadcast it, 1 episode was left unscreened and the episodes that were shown were broadcast in a matinee slot rather than the evening slot that the previous English series had been given. Why is unclear, as the Australian series was in nearly every way as good as the British one, having been produced and often directed by William G. Stewart, best known here as host of the quiz show Fifteen to 1. Whether it was a case of false pride at LWT is unknown, but the ...Down Under series was denied a repeat or better exposure. This really was the end of the line.

Until…

Moving on and moving up

The Nineties were responsible for, in many ways, few ‘quality’ sitcoms. Many were just plainly unfunny, some were just plain crude and only a few were really worth considering as carrying the torch for the classics of the past. British series that merit the title from this era were One Foot In The Grave, 2point4 children, Waiting For God and Father Ted – although I’m sure many will disagree with my choice; fair comment. However, what the decade lacked in originality, it made up for by remaking past classics – or trying to. The Liver Birds was resurrected, and while funny in parts, took great liberties with what had gone before. The Doctor... series didn’t take liberties as such, but it certainly added a great deal to the old format.

In 1991, Messrs Nedwell, Davies, Layton – who shared the writing chores on this ‘update’ with Bill Oddie – and Clark returned to St. Swithin’s for Doctor At The Top. Ten years had made a difference to our characters – over 15 on-screen since we had seen Layton’s Paul Collier, as Layton had dropped out on the acting side of the series to appear in the pilot and subsequent first two series of It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum.

By this time, Duncan had been appointed the hospital’s NHS consultant paediatrician and was married with five children to Geraldine – where Kate had gone, we never found out. Paul Collier was still a batchelor, befitting his style of living which was diametrically opposed to Waring’s homely lifestyle. Collier had a swish apartment, afforded no doubt by the Harley Street practise he ran when not employed as the consultant general surgeon at St. Swithin’s. Dick Stuart-Clark had finally been tied down to married life by old Sir Geoffrey’s daughter Emma, while replacing Sir Geoffrey as Professor of Surgery. He was often harassed by his daughter, Rebecca, who was a bit of a student radical, something that now they are older and wiser, the threesome can’t quite get their heads round – and certainly don’t want to happen now they’re basically running the hospital for Loftus!

This time around, the comedy had matured like the characters, and misadventures centred around the problems of running the hospital in the face of NHS underfunding, cuts and problems from Waring’s and Stuart-Clark’s children rather than the nurse-chasing antics of the earlier series. As a series, it was well-written – hardly surprising, as Layton and Oddie had either written or had a hand in a lot of the best scripts in the original run – but if audiences were after the same thing as before, they were to be disappointed. This was a new series, new situations and the comedy was about how our old characters would handle things when really put in charge and with responsibilities. It did fairly well in the ratings, but not enough to be renewed after its seven episodes, which was a bit of a shame.

A classic of its time

It’s very unlikely that a third revival will be attempted now, with the unfortunate and early death of Robin Nedwell in 1999, aged only 59, unless the series was completely recast. It also must be said that the girl-chasing humour as originally shown in the popular days of the series probably wouldn’t work now, as a lot of the popular Seventies comedies just wouldn’t gel with today’s often jaundiced audiences (I refer to the general public here!) Doctor At The Top was a good attempt at an update, but as it didn’t work out, it’s unlikely a further attempt would succeed.

In retrospect, the Doctor… series were a product of their time, a good product, enjoyed by many – and can still be enjoyed today. Waring, Stuart-Clark and Collier may have finally hung up their stethoscopes, but they had a good run for their money.

article copyright PPS / M. Hearn 2002